Starting means for gas or similar engines.



PATENTBD JAN. 2, 1906.

- I. L. ORR. STARTING MEANS FOR GAME SIMILAR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 21. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS LEONARD ORR, OF THURMAN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARK MORROIV, OF PERCIVAL, IOWA.

STARTING MEANS FOR GAS OR SIMILAR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed February 21,1905. Serial No. 246,753.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS LEONARD ORR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Thurman, in the county of Fremont and- State of Iowa, have invented certain new and Igniters are suitably located in the working cylinders, having arrangement in the electrical circuit for ignition of the explosive mixture or charge in the working cylinders through completion of the electric circuit by novel means and circuit-wiring.

My invention comprehends battery or other suitable electrical supply, a storage-tank for feed of air to the carbureter, means for maintaining pressure of air in the storage-tank, and other means, all of which shall be made operatively automatic through provision of and the simplefcut in and out of an auxiliary or separate electrical circuit.

The invention consists of the combination of devices, means, and electrical circuits illustrated by the diagrammatic view in the accompanying drawing, whichv will hereinafter be fully explained and the novelty comprehended therein be pointed out in the appended claims.

The view in the drawing shows my invention applied to an ordinary two-cylinder gasolene enginer but obviously it is readily adaptable to any similar type of engine employing one or more power-cylinders.

In the drawing, A A denote explosive-engine power-cylinders of any suitable and desired form or type. Pistons B B are employed in the embodiment illustrated, having suitable rod connections O C to oppositely-disposed cranks D on a power-shaft D. One end of the power-shaft is provided with a fly-wheel E, whose outer periphery or surface is divided into two sets of substantially equal insulated and conductive surfaces, respectively F F and G G. In other words, one side surface of the outer periphery of the fiy-wheel E from about its middle portion is made conductive half-way thereof, as at F, and non-conductive the other half-surface, as indicated at G. The other outer periphery of the fly-wheel is provided with like conductive and non-conductive surfaces, (indicated at G F;) but it will be noticed that the surfaces just mentioned are arranged providing two circumferential paths H H encircling the fly-wheel, wherein both ends of the conductive surface F adjoin the respective ends of the non-conductive surface G, and that the ends of the'conductive surface G adjoin the respective ends of non-conductive surface F", thereby providing opposite insulated and conductive surfaces on the fly-wheel periphery similar in arrangement to the surface of an ordinary commutator. On the crank or power shaft D, I arrange a cam I, adapted, through means of suitable engagement with the rod 1', for operation of an airpump J.

K denotes an air-storage tank having communicating passage-way K with the discharge end of the pump J. Within the tank K, I arrange a diaphragm K adapted for operation of a connected rod K extended through a suitable opening in this end of the tank K. The outer end of the rod K maybe variously fashioned into a nose K, adapted at normal or outward adjustment of the rod K for engagement with a collar or shoulder K fixedly located on the pump-rod I.

In further carrying out my invention I provide a passage-way L, leading from the airstorage tank K and arranged for delivering into passage-ways L L which latter deliver into the combustion ends of the respective power-cylinders A A. Obviously suitable check-valves (not indicated) may be located in the aforesaid air passage-ways leading into and from the storage-tank K; but in addition thereto a cut-ofi valve M is arranged in the air passage-way L. The latter valve is operatively connected with the stem M of a suitable core M forming part of a solenoid M whose terminals have electric connection with a battery N through the circuit N having located therein any suitable form of switch or push-button N 0 denotes a suitable rod havingone end secured to the solenoid-stem M and its other end extended and fashioned, adapted for attachment of metal or other type of contactbrushes 1, 2, 3, and 4. It will be noticed that the brushes 1 and 2 are located for engagement with the conductive and insulated surfaces F Gr of the path If around the fly-wheel E and that the brushes 3 and 4 have similar arrangement for contact with the path H formed by the fly-wheel insulated and conductive surfaces F G. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention employing two power-cylinders and commutator-paths H H, as they may be termed, spark-coils 5 6 are employed and the same placed in circuit with a battery W through suitable arrangement of circuit-wires and the igniters P P in their respective cylinders A A.

In the drawing ignition of the explosive mixture is illustrated as taking place in the power-cylinder A. Completion of electrical circuit therefor may be traced from the pole 7 of the battery W through the wire 8, the brush 2, conductive surface F on the flywheel, the brush 1, the wire 9, spark-coil 5, and the wire 10, leading to the igniter I, and thence through the walls of the power-cylinders, the wire 11, the spark-coil 5, and the wire 12, leading to the pole 13 of the battery W. Description of the electric circuit leading to the igniter P will render the similar circuit leading to the igniter P in the cylinder A fully understood, since the latter-mentioned circuit is identical to the circuit traced in detail, save thatit leads through the brushes 3 and 4, the conductive surface G on the flywheel, and the spark-coil 6.

In further describing myinvention I would refer to a circuit-closer Q, shown in my drawing, located on one end of the air-storage tank K. The preferred form of this circuitcloser involves binding-posts Q Q and a spring-arm or elastic bar Q One end of this bar is secured to the binding-post Q, and it is held with its other end disposed sufficiently above the upper or contact end of the binding-post Q The bar or arm Q extends from its support Q to and under the solenoidcore M and its tension should be sufficient to yieldingly support the solenoid-core and its attachments with the circuit-closing end of the bar held above contacting engagement with the binding-post Q Q denotes circuit-wires connecting the respective binding-posts Q, Q and the poles 13 7 of the battery W. It is intended that the circuit-wiring of both the spark-coils shall lead through the circuit-wires Q," and be cut in and out by the switch Q.

In the embodiment of my invention any suitable form of carbureter B may be employed, and the same is arranged adapted for suitable passage therethrough of air conveyed from the storage-tank K for delivery into the combustion ends of the cylindersA A. This carbureter R may be supplied with oil by means of a tube S leading from any suitable storage-tank S. i

The construction and the several electrical circuits, cut-outs, &c., employed in the makeup of my invention will be understood from the above description.

In explanation of the use of my invention I will assume that the engine is at rest and that the air-storage tank K is filled with compressed air. To start the engine in motion, the switch I 2 is closed for an instant, when supply of current from the battery N by the circuit-wires N will energize the solenoid M drawing up the core M and thereby through connection of its stem M open the valve M, adapted for free passage of air from the tank K through the passage-way L, carbureter R, the passage-ways L U, and thus feed explosive mixture into the combustion ends of the power-cylinders A A. Upon releasing or opening the switch N the solenoid will obviously be deenergized, when its core M will drop, operating through connection of the stem M to close the valve M in the air passage-way L. At the same time droppingaction of the solenoid-core N 2 will through weight of its impact force down the free end of the arm Q against tension of the latter to contact with the binding-post Q and thereby complete the circuit Q* from the battery W. The brushes 1, 2, 3, and 4: being fixed to the lower end of the rod 0 and the latter being carried by the solenoid-stem M, obviously downward movement of the stem will adjust the brushes to engagement with the outer surface of the fly-wheel E, and as the circuit is completed between the brushes 1 and 2 by the fly-wheel conductive surface F, as illustrated, it follows that the explosive charge in the upper end of the cylinder A will be fired by ignition of spark-plug P and the piston B forced downward, starting the engine in motion. Recoil of the yielding arm Q of the switch Q will operate, lifting slightly the solenoid-core 1V and obviously with the free end of the switch-arm Q thus moved from contact with the binding-post Q the battery W will be cut out. It is intended that after having started the engine in motion, as above described, it shall work with its own battery and circuit, not necessary to here illustrate, completed through the sparkplugs P P by well-known circuit means.

It is apparent that should the engine have been at rest with the conductive surface G on thefiy-wheel E located next or directly under the brushes 3 and 4: the circuit would be completed through the spark-coil 6, and thereby firing the charge of explosive mixture in the upper end of the cylinder A, with effect to start the engine in the same direction. It will of course be understood that the cranks D D of the shaft D should be positioned for forward movement of the engine during downward stroke of both the pistons B B. Now by means of the several circuits and arrangement of the insulated andconductive surfaces on the fly wheel E and through operation of the solenoid circuitclosers, &c. it is apparent that the engine may be started at any time by simple closure of the switch N In the'use of my invention when pressure in the tank K is reduced below normal the diaphragm should operate, drawing the nose K of the rod K from under the collar K on the pump-rod I. This action will permit the pump-rod to drop to position with its lower end in operative. engagement with the cam I on the power-shaft D. In this condition of the parts just mentioned it is apparent that the pump J will be worked, and thereby restore pressure of air in the tank K to normal, and thereby force outwardly the diaphragm K adapted for adjusting the nose K of the rod K into position under the collar K It is intended that the arrangement of parts last described shall be adapted for holding engagement with the pump-rod I when the cam I is at its upward adjustment and by which action operation of the pump J is stopped.

The many applications of my improved explosive-engine-starting means will be readily appreciated and understood. It has special utility for starting operation of the engine by placing the circuit-closer N at a remote location from the engine or its room. Its usefulness over means heretofore employed for starting automobiles will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. An explosive-engine starter, employing an air-storage tank, a carbureter, an air pas-- sage-way leading from the storage tank, through the carbureter and into the combustion-chamber of the engine, .means for restoring the air-tank, means operating to arrest action of the storing means by pressure in the storage-tank, a spark-plug with battery and suitable electric circuit, for ignition of the explosive mixture in the engine combustion-chamber, a commutator device driven by the engine, a valve in the air passage-way leading from the storage-tank, a solenoid or similar device having electric supply and a cut-out, adapted for operating the said valve, brushes adapted for adjustment into circuitclosing contact with the commutator by operation of the solenoid, a normally open circuit-closer adapted for closure through operation of the solenoid, the spark-coil and hattery being in electrical circuit with the commutator-brushes, the engine spark-plug, and the poles of the normally open circuit-closer, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an explosive-engine, having means for feeding explosive mixtu re thereinto, employing an air-storage tank,

a carbureter connected thereto, and means a normally open circuit-closer adapted for momentary closure by operation of the solenoid, and a battery and spark-coil in electric circuit with the commutator-brushes, the engine spark-plug and the poles of the normally open circuit-closer, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an engine having a plurality of working cylinders, and a common power-shaft, of a circular commutator on the power-shaft, the outer periphery of the commutator being divided into sets of oppositely-located conductive and insulated surfaces, brushes adapted for adjustment into and out of contact with the commutator, means adapted to feed explosive mixture into the engine-cylinders and whereby adjustment of the commutator-brushes is effected, a normally open circuit-closer adapted for momentary closure, and electrical means for operating the same, which is also adapted for conjoint operation of the eXplosive-mixture-supply means, and a battery and spark-coils, in electrical circuit with the commutatorbrushes, the spark-plugs in the engine-cylinders, and the poles of the normally open circuit-closer, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an explosive-engine, employing a spark-plug, a battery in electrical circuit with the spark-plug, and

switches for closing and opening the batterycircuit, of a circuit employing a spark-coil, a commutator whereby the circuit is closed and opened, a normally open circuit-closer in the battery-circuit, a solenoid or similar device adapted for momentary closing of the normally open circuit-closer and also conjoint feed of explosive mixture to the engine, a battery in electric circuit with the solenoid, and a switch in the solenoid circuit, substantially as described.

V FRANCIS LEONARD ORR. Witnesses:

J. WITHERS, LUCIUS L. OAILLET. 

